What struck me most as I listened to these farmers and processors accept their awards, and talk a little about their operations, was the emotion in their voice at being recognized by such a broad set of stakeholders (the Council has members like McDonald’s and Starbucks as well as environmental groups like World Wildlife Fund and of course dairy farms, co-ops and companies of all stripes).The farms highlighted by these awards are pretty well-known within their industry for being top tier operations, but still, to have their example lifted up, validated and promoted meant a great deal to them. Also striking about their examples was just how much excellence in one area spread across to excellence across the board. A number of the winners emphasized, "We are not alone!"

Indeed, they are not alone as good stewards of their land and their animals – but they are among a relatively small, but growing segment of mainstream agriculture who understand keenly how the issue of sustainability connects the often disparate data dots of how they do "the right thing," to the operation’s bottom line to the processor/retailer’s reporting needs to the desires and interests consumers have for their purchases to support something beyond just the product they are buying.

It is a tall order to "get it" on the level that I’m describing.Its not like farmers don’t have enough to do already!Still, as the term "sustainability" has been picking up usage and some might say steam in the last several years, there remains much grumbling and upset in the larger ranks.Understandably, some fear the burdens of additional cost or unruly new requirements that may come from the supply chain in the name of making things that have seemed to work just fine for a long time, "sustainable."

But as is so often the case in life – being open to new experiences, even ones that may seem challenging or not valuable, usually brings far greater reward than initially anticipated – in no small part due to the creativity and social good will that gets unleashed.Time and again I have seen the power of positive action shape and make meaning out of a force that could otherwise have been very destructive.In these dairy sustainability awards, I see the seeds of a larger agricultural renewal.

So, let’s take a look at some of these exemplary dairy producers -- more stories from the full supply chain can be found by clicking here. (*material taken from the Innovation for U.S. Dairy website, links provided).

Blue Spruce Farm was one of the first farms in the country to install a variable speed vacuum pump control, reducing energy used during milking by nearly 60 percent. Inspired, they pursued new technologies in lighting, milking, milk cooling, barn construction, ventilation and water heating that reduced energy use from an average of 1,000 kWh per cow per year, to an average of 500 kWh per cow per year. These savings, in turn, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 500 pounds of CO2e per cow per year. The Audets also designed systems that reuse water in many ways to reduce overall consumption and improve the water consumed by the animals. ??Blue Spruce Farm is probably best known for being the first dairy to participate in Central Vermont Public Service’s groundbreaking Cow Power™ program, which allows consumers to purchase renewable energy generated on dairy farms."

Sustainability practices woven into farm’s foundation ?More than a motto, sustainability is a cornerstone for Holsum Dairies in Hilbert, Wis. Long-term sustainability, according to Holsum, must benefit the dairies, employees and the community financially and socially; have a positive impact on the environment; maintain the welfare of animals; and produce safe, high-quality milk. These were significant considerations when Holsum selected a location for their two dairies in 2001 and 2006.

Over the past 25 years, Calumet County lost animal operations but significantly increased crop production. Spotting this imbalance, Holsum worked with 40 local crop farmers and five custom harvesters to provide all of the dairies' forage needs fostering trust and delivering benefits for all parties. During their annual meetings, the farmers share information and best practices — resulting in a stronger knowledge base and higher efficiency as well as higher profit and higher quality feed for the animals.

In this win-win relationship, the environment also reaps the benefits by having 11,000 acres under a single nutrient management plan, lower cost and emissions associated with manufacturing and transport of fertilizer, more efficient crop production and more precise fertilizer application. Thoughtful and collaborative planning has yielded benefits for the community, the environment and the dairies."

In an area threatened by urban sprawl and endangered salmon runs, three groups — farmers, Native American tribes and environmentalists — have worked together toward a common good, rather than focus on any differences they might have.

Ten years ago, Werkhoven Dairy in Monroe, Wash., assumed a leadership role in developing a collaborative partnership between the farm and the neighboring dairy and beef producers of the Sno/Sky Ag Alliance; the Northwest Chinook Recovery (an organization working to restore salmon habitat); and the 3,500-member Native American Tulalip Tribes. Together, they focused on opportunities for resource conservation and formed Qualco Energy.??Qualco — which means "where two rivers come together" in the region's native language — is a nonprofit entity that collects manure from the cows and pre-consumer food waste from nearby companies, and Qualco uses those materials to generate energy through a digester system.

The system produces enough energy each day to power 300 homes while keeping the air and water clean, protecting salmon streams and creating Grade A compost for the Werkhovens to naturally fertilize their fields and share with their neighbors.

The organizations are working toward additional conservation efforts with a collective goal of investing profit from the digester in new renewable energy and recycling projects, fish and wildlife habitat restoration and sustainable farming practices."

The power of a good example is strong. It connects to people in a way that data doesn’t.But the key to the strength of the example is in the results it produces -- and that does ultimately come down to some type of measurement.These aren’t just stories that create a human connection to the people providing your food (although they do that as well), they are examples of how dairy producers are solving the very concerns many of their customers have – on things like greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy and community support.Critically, these examples also contain in them the point that they are able to do this because they are profitable not in spite of the fact.

The balance that these producers place on profit, community care and environmental stewardship is extremely impressive.The creative way in which they solve problems and the outcomes they have achieved make these model farms.

From where I sit, at the intersection of working with farmers and ag groups, their supply chain and some environmental groups, there is a striking lack of strong, clear examples put forward in a way that unifies this long string of interests, rather than adding fuel to the divisive fire.Three cheers for the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy for finding and highlighting strong examples of achieving this important balance.The power of a good example – backed by sound practices, data . . . and a willingness to share it can make a world of difference.

In the coming years, if market trends continue as they have been going, this key ingredient of a successful agricultural operation will become exponentially important.As processors and retailers seek to capture and quantify the fuller story behind the goods they sell, those who have experience and results to show will be the sought out providers for a supply chain hungry for data as well as good examples.

It is great to see the dairy industry pursuing a path that will enable them to chart their own course on the sustainability issue.Recognizing some of the amazing leaders within their ranks does more than lift up the individual efforts of these operations, it helps build an industry profile on sustainability that is fair, credible and celebrated.